Goon's Weekly Predictions 10-28-10-29

There are eleven teams playing this week in the WCHA, the walking wounded of Minnesota State University Mankato have a bye and they are off this weekend. There are five league game and one non-conference match-up between C.C. and RPI. Following last week record of (7-5) + (7-9) the week before I am now 14-14 for the season in my picks.

Denver vs MTU - DU Sweep
Bemidji vs UMD - Split
St. Cloud State vs UND - Sweep UND
UNO vs Wisconsin - Sweep Wisconsin
Minnesota and Alaska Anchorage - Split
C.C. vs RPI - Sweep Tigers

Sioux vs. Badgers game two

Image via WikipediaUND’s Forward Lines

29 Brock Nelson–10 Corban Knight (A)–7 Danny Kristo
16 Mark MacMillan–27 Carter Rowney–15 Michael Parks
28 Stephane Pattyn–9 Mario Lamoureux (C)–11 Derek Rodwell
8 Dan Senkbeil–14 Taylor Dickin–20 Joe Gleason

Defensive Parings

4 Derek Forbort–24 Ben Blood (A)
2 Andrew MacWilliam (A)–5 Nick Mattson
18 Dillon Simpson–22 Andrew Panzarella

Goalies

32 Aaron Dell
31 Brad Eidsness

Fighting Sioux Player Stats

Wisconsin’s Forward Lines

16 Joseph LaBate–9 Mark Zengerle–7 Tyler Barnes
25 Michael Mersch–23 Derek Lee–8 Matt Paape
21 Brendan Woods–14 Jefferson Dahl–20 Ryan Little
26 Brad Navin–12 Keegan Meuer–13 Gavin Hartzog

Defense Pairings

4 Eric Springer–6 Justin Schultz
27 Frankie Simonelli–24 Joe Faust
3 Patrick Daly–55 John Ramage

goalies

33 Joel Rumpel
30 Landon Peterson
35 Mitch Thompson

Wisconsin Player Stats

Tonight's officials; Brad Shepherd and Todd Anderson

Video webcasts for each game can be purchased at www.uwbadgers.com. Free (delayed) video streaming of both games will also be available at 10 p.m. each night at Wisconsin Public TV.

TV for this weekend's games.

Image via WikipediaHere is the information on this weekend's series between the Fighting Sioux and the Wisconsin Badgers. Only Friday's game against the Badgers will be on TV.

MEDIA COVERAGE: All Fighting Sioux men's hockey games, home and away, can be heard on 96.1 FM (The Fox) and on stations across the Fighting Sioux Hockey Network. Veteran broadcaster Tim Hennessy is in his 31st season as the voice of the Fighting Sioux. He is joined during home games by color analyst Steve Olson.

Friday night's game will be broadcast live on Fox Sports North Wisconsin and Fox College Sports Atlantic. (Fox Sports Wisconsin Direct TV 669) Saturday's game will not be available outside of Wisconsin.

Video webcasts for each game can be purchased at www.uwbadgers.com. Free (delayed) video streaming of both games will also be available at 10 p.m. each night at Wisconsin Public TV.

Weekend Match-Ups (by Sioux 7)

Image via WikipediaReady… Set… GO… And they’re off.

The good news, the regular season is starting, the bad news, there is only 2 seasons left of the WCHA as we know it. This is it. Everyone has a chance to start their run to capture the big, shiny, MacNaughton Cup.

I hope everyone had a good summer and is as anxious as I am for college hockey to get underway. I look forward to seeing how poorly my prognostication skills are again this season. Hopefully, you will enjoy reading my attempts to make some type of educated guess to who will win their games week in and week out.

Here is a little refresher…


WCHA ‘10-‘11 FINAL standings

TEAM……………..…....W-L-T...Pts
1. North Dakota…..……..21-6-1…43
2. Denver……..………...…17-8-3…37
3. Nebraska-Omaha.…..17-9-2…36
4. Minnesota-Duluth.....15-8-5…35
5. Minnesota……..….......13-10-5…31
6. Colorado College…...13-13-2…28
7. Wisconsin………....….12-13-3…27
8. Alaska-Anchorage…12-14-2…26
8. St. Cloud State….....11-13-4…26
10. Bemidji State…….….8-15-5…21
10. Minnesota State…….8-16-4…20
12. Michigan Tech………2-24-2…6


This season the WCHA starts out with 7 teams ranked in the USCHO poll:

#3 – North Dakota
#4 – Denver
#7 – Colorado College
#8 – Minnesota-Duluth
#14 – Nebraska-Omaha
#17 – Wisconsin
#19 – Minnesota


Non Conference Games

American International @ Michigan Tech
Last season the Huskies jumped out with a 6-game unbeaten streak, and then things fell apart. This year let’s hope they get off to another good start, but not have the falling apart thing happen again. HUSKIES WIN & TIE.


Bemidji St. @ #2 Miami (OH)
The Beavers start the season with a stiff test. Let’s hope the Beavers are up to the challenge. I’m sure the RedHawks won’t overlook BSU. With a rank of number two, you gotta be good, so I’m going with the home team. RedHawks Sweep.


Minnesota State @ #18 Rensselaer
This series could go down as an upset, the Mavericks have good goaltending and could easily take the series. However, this season is just starting, so they might be rusty, both teams. SPLIT.


#1 Notre Dame @ #8 Minnesota-Duluth
This should be the top series of the weekend, with two top ten teams playing a pair of games in South Bend. I’m wimping out in this one. SPLIT.


Sacred Heart @ #19 Minnesota
This is Sacred Heart playing the Gophers, not Holy Cross, so don’t get them confused now. However, if SH beats the Gophers, you will not get them confused. GOPHERS WIN & TIE


Northern Michigan @ #17 Wisconsin
The Badgers get a visit from an old WCHA foe, in the form of the Wildcats from Marquette. NMU plays some good hockey so don’t be surprised if they give the Badgers a run for their money. SPLIT


ICE BREAKER
Air Force @ #3 North Dakota
The Falcons have played top teams in season past, but have not beaten many of them. I’m going with the host team in this match-up, Sioux win.

#5 BC or MichSt. @ #3 North Dakota
I’m thinking the Eagles will beat the Spartans in their first game, and then move on to play the Sioux. I think everyone wants to see a game between two top five teams. Sioux win. And then in the other game of AFA v MSU, I’m going with the Falcons.


MAVERICK STAMPEDE
Mercyhurst @ #14 Nebraska-Omaha
Last year it seemed as if the Mavericks played to the level of their opponents. They would beat many of the top teams, but would lose to some of the lower teams. I’m sure UNO fans want another fast start this season. Mavericks win.

Colgate/RMU @ #14 Nebraska-Omaha
I’m not sure who to go with in the CU/RMU contest, I’m leaning the way of Colgate, can’t explain it, but I’m going with them to win over RMU. Then I’ll take them over UNO in their game. That leaves RMU v Mercyhurst, and I’m going with Mercyhurst in that contest.


KENDALL HOCKEY CLASSIC
St. Cloud St. @ Alaska
Last year I attended this tournament in Anchorage and had a good time. This year I will not be attending, since the Sioux are not there. I’m going to take the Huskies in this game over the soon to be WHCA Nanooks.

St. Could St @ Alaska-Anchorage
This is a non-conference game between these two in this game. The Seawolves finished strong last season and I think they will be a tough team this year too. Seawolves win.

Clarkson @ Alaska-Anchorage
I have to go with our WCHA friends in this match-up, especially when it is at the Sullivan Arena in Anchorage. Seawolves win.

Clarkson @ Alaska
I like the Nanooks sweaters, so hey, why not support them here. Nanooks win.


BYE WEEK
#7 Colorado College Tigers
#5 Denver Pioneers

2nd Annual WCHA Blogger & Website Preseason Poll

Image via WikipediaOnce again the bloggers of the WCHA had a preseason blogger poll and this is what we came up with, this was the second time that we have conducted this preseason blogger poll. Here are the results as they shook out. There were 17 bloggers/website owners that participated in this poll. s/t Chad from A Tradition of Excellence.

	Team (1st Place Votes)	Points
1.	Denver (10)	196
2.	Colorado College (4)	179
3.	North Dakota (2)	175
4.	Nebraska-Omaha	141
5.	Minnesota-Duluth (1)	140
6.	Minnesota	124.5
7.	Wisconsin	100
8.	St. Cloud State	92
9.	Alaska-Anchorage	68.5
10.	Bemidji State	52
11.	Michigan Tech	30
12.	Minnesota State-Mankato	28

All-Conference Team (15 Voters):

F -	Jaden Schwartz, Colorado College
F -	Jason Zucker, Denver
F -	Jack Connolly, Minnesota-Duluth
D -	Justin Schultz, Wisconsin
D -	Ben Blood, North Dakota
G -	Aaron Dell, North Dakota

Player of the Year:
Jason Zucker, Denver (9)
Jaden Schwartz, Colorado College (8)

Rookie of the Year:
Rocco Grimaldi, North Dakota (14)
Jayson Megna, Nebraska-Omaha (1)
Joey LaLeggia, Denver (1)
Josh Archibald, Nebraska-Omaha (1)

Defenseman of the Year (16 Voters):
Justin Schultz, Wisconsin (11)
Ben Blood, North Dakota (4)
Nick Jensen, St. Cloud State (1)

Breakout Player of the Year (16 Voters):
Beau Bennett, Denver (2)
JT Brown, Minnesota-Duluth (2)
Zach Budish, Minnesota (2)
10 Other Players Received 1 Vote

Here is the list of everyone that took part in the blogger poll:
Timothy Boger, (North Dakota)
Donna, Runnin' With the Dogs (Minnesota-Duluth)
Summerzzzoff, CC Tiger Hockey (Colorado College)
Dirty, Dirty's Diatribe (North Dakota)
Nate, Gopher Puck Live (Minnesota)
Eric, Goon's World (North Dakota)
gmf1a, CC Tiger Hockey Forum (Colorado College)
Nicole, Cute Sports (Wisconsin)
Chuck, Bucky's 5th Quarter (Wisconsin)
Matt, USCHO
Jeremy, Husky Hockey Time (St. Cloud State) 
Tim, Tech Hockey Guide (Michigan Tech)
Jon/Bridget, MavPuck.com (Nebraska-Omaha)
Hammy, Gopher Hockey Blog (Minnesota)
Nate, SB Nation Minnesota/First Round Bust (Minnesota)
Ryan, Gopher Puck Live (Minnesota)
Chad, A Tradition of Excellence (North Dakota)

41st annual Grand Forks Herald WCHA coaches poll

Image via WikipediaHere is the much awaited WCHA coaches poll.
Coaches poll
1. Denver (7) 115
2. UND (4) 110
3. Colorado College (1) 105
4. Omaha 89
5. Duluth 75
6. Minnesota 74
7. St. Cloud State 61
8. Wisconsin 54
9. Anchorage 36
10. Bemidji State 30
11. MSU-Mankato 29
12. Michigan Tech 14

Preseason player of the year
Jaden Schwartz, Colorado College (8)
Justin Schultz, Wisconsin (2)
Terry Broadhurst, Omaha (1)
Jack Connolly, Minnesota-Duluth (1)

Preseason rookie of the year
Rocco Grimaldi, UND (10)
Joey LaLeggia, Denver (1)
Jayson Megna, Omaha (1)

Related articles

• Hump Day Links... (mvn.com)
• WCHA to expand... (mvn.com)
• What's up SCSU? (mvn.com)
• Waiting to Exhale, the WCHA is Back (mvn.com)

Waiting to Exhale, the WCHA is Back

This season I will be writing for Inside Hockey with a big blog from out east run by Tim Rosenthal… I will be one of the WCHA writers this season. Here was the first article that I submitted.

The whirl wind summer that saw a bunch of realignment in college hockey has finally come to an end and now college hockey fans can worry about... watching college hockey games as the hockey season is once again upon us. Most college hockey teams have already started their captain’s practices and college hockey coaches are allowed by NCAA rules to practice for two hours each week with their teams until October 1st 2011.

The college hockey season will officially kick off their exhibition games during the first weekend of October. The following weekend all 12 WCHA teams WCHA teams will kick off their non-conference and preseason tourney games. Here is the link composite WCHA schedule for the 2011-12 season. [Link to the composite WCHA schedule]

Re-alignment almost set?

As mentioned in the preceding paragraph; this past summer has been a whirl wind for college hockey fans of the WCHA with the defections of teams to the B1G (Wisconsin, Minnesota) and the defections of teams to the newly formed and National Collegiate Hockey Conference (Colorado College, Denver University, University of Minnesota Duluth, University of Nebraska Omaha and University of North Dakota), the WCHA in its present form will change after the 2012-13 season.

Starting in 2013-14 the WCHA will consist of the following teams, University of Alaska Anchorage, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Bemidji State University, Ferris State University, Lake Superior State University, Michigan Tech University, Minnesota State University Mankato, Northern Michigan University, and Saint Cloud State University. Two other schools have been given invitations to join the WCHA from the CCHA, Western Michigan University and Bowling Green State University have been given invitations to join the WCHA but neither school has accepted or declined the invitation at this point. The WCHA would like to add WMU and BGSU as members to the WCHA because without either school, none of the schools in the WCHA are Division I in any other sport besides hockey.

Teams bolting for super conferences:

We already have an idea what the new WCHA will look like; there may be an addition or subtraction in the future. Based on the moves that have taken place this summer, it also appears that there will no longer be a CCHA. While re-alignment is almost over for the WCHA there are still a few moves yet to be played out. While holding up the show for most of the summer, Notre Dame has yet to pick a home for its college hockey team; there have been rumblings that the Fighting Irish are close to selecting a conference. Stay with me now; there are three or four scenarios in play for them right now, Notre Dame could join the NCHC, Hockey East, go independent or join the Big Ten. The later scenario has surfaced in the last week or so.

Big Ten driving re-alignment:

Due to a very generous donation from PSU alumnus Terry Pegula; Penn State University will now have a college hockey team to start the 2012-13 college hockey season. Peulla opened his rather large wallet and wrote Penn State a check for 88 million to help the Nittany Lions build Pegula Ice arena. That donation rocked the college hockey world, now that the Big Ten “will have” six teams that play college hockey, they are required by conference rules to have a B1G hockey conference. The addition of one college hockey team set the ball in motion for a very chaotic summer. The Big Ten Schools that used to be in both the WCHA and the CCHA are now going to form the Big Ten Hockey Conference.

Not to be out done and in response to the Big Ten hockey conference formation; Miami University from the CCHA decided to join North Dakota, Denver University, Colorado College University Nebraska Omaha to form the NCHC. The NCHC schools have been trying to lure Notre Dame to become a member of the six team super conference. WMU is also said to be very interested in joining the NCHC, and they have spent the summer trying to convince the NCHC that they would be a worthy suitor in the NCHC. If WMU is unable to join the NCHC they will probably join the WCHA. BGSU has yet to make decision but are leaning towards joining the WCHA.
There have been rumblings that if Notre Dames doesn’t join the NCHC that SCSU “might” get an invite to the NCHC but at this time they are still on the outside looking in. This move would stink with hypocrisy especially after Saint Cloud State University President Dr Earl H. Potter III said he wouldn’t join the NCHC even if his school was offered a spot in the conference. Potter has since backed off this statement.

How will things shake out?

While I don’t get a vote in the WCHA media pre-season poll, this is how I think the standings will shake out for the 2011-12 season. The top six – seven teams in the WCHA are pretty equal and could finish anywhere from first to seventh. Like last season, we could see one or both B1G schools failing to make the Final Five once again. I believe Denver, Colorado College and North Dakota are cream of the crop in the WCHA this season. In the future I will break down the teams to watch in the WCHA.

1. Denver
2. Colorado College
3. North Dakota
4. Minnesota
5. Nebraska-Omaha
6. Wisconsin
6. Minnesota-Duluth
8. Alaska-Anchorage
9. St. Cloud State
10. Bemidji State
11. Michigan Tech
12.MinnesotaState

Why WCHA fans should be concerned...

Image via WikipediaUSCHO has an excellent article today on the proposed CHSL {click to read article)... According to the blog post this new league could be announced in the next two weeks. What should concern my fellow WCHA fans is the comments made by WCHA commissioner Bruce McLeod.

WCHA commissioner Bruce McLeod said his league has studied different scenarios that have been floated in an offseason full of speculation about college hockey’s future. But he said this proposal seems to have more momentum.

“I’m not sure why or whatever; I’m not privy to those conversations. I’ve never had a conversation with North Dakota or Denver about their plans that they’re pushing,” McLeod said. “At this point, I haven’t thought about Plan B at all. I’m still working on the assumption that we’re together as 10 [teams after Minnesota and Wisconsin leave for the Big Ten] and, as unanimously directed by the group in Florida [at league meetings in April], can consider extending an invitation to anybody that could strengthen the league. And that’s our plan.”

Athletic directors at Denver and North Dakota could not be reached for comment

Wow! Those comments by McLeod doesn't give me a lot of confidence in his leadership, a good commissioner would have been more forward thinking and would have been in contact with their member schools, trying to gauge what the other remaining schools were thinking. It's time for McLeod to go